Virginia has decided it wants to be a Northern state. I'm kind of crabby about it because why should I have to run on 100* 99% humidity days in the summer and in negative windchill in the winter. Must we really have both extremes?
Anyways, Friday wasn't so bad - I got in a nice 3 miles in a reasonable number of layers. Then on Saturday, I managed to hit the perfect window: 30+ degrees with little wind and some sun. I stopped just short of 6 miles as my knee decided to complain. (I really wish it would heal completely instead of deciding to hurt at random points in runs...) … [Read more...]

Pouring rain? Thunder and lightning? Code red air quality? High heat? Freezing cold? Winds that could blow you off the planet?
Which one of these have you raced in?
That's right, today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run, is "Worst Race Conditions." When Patty, April, and I started discussing this topic, I was like "oh, that's easy." And then I realized that it wasn't. Why?
Because I have raced in just about every awful condition except sleet. Yep, not only am I the Queen of Hilly Races, I'm also apparently the Princess of Bad Weather. (To be fair, because I run so many races, I've also had some absolutely beautiful races.)
So, here are some of my highlights (lowlights?) in pictures...
My very first race (yeah, I started … [Read more...]

It's Friday. Fr-Fr-Friday! I'm ready for Friday. It's been a super long week (how is it that a day that had a holiday in it can seem longer than a normal week?). Know what's awesome about Friday? Friday Five with Courtney, Cynthia and Mar AND a beer. I know today's topic is "Cold Weather Running Tips". I'm pretty sure I've covered that sufficiently now. (Don't believe me? Let's see... "How to run outside this winter" "How to stay active during the Holidays" "Tips for training through the winter" Yep, covered.)
So, let's talk about another way to survive the winter. Beer. I always like to talk about beer. In fact, yesterday I went to Wegman's and was so overwhelmed by the whole place that the only thing I bought was, you … [Read more...]

It's Friday, which means time for Friday Five and the topic is staying healthy over the holidays. But today, I've got a little twist on my usual post.
In a nice little "stars aligning" moment, I'd already partnered with Kohl's Activewear to give you all some ideas for how to stay fit over the holidays. We all know that it's such a busy time of the year and all of the office parties and holiday open houses and dinners out add a double whammy: Not only are you too busy to get your workouts in, but you are filling your workout time with events that offer way too many yummy foods. And the beer? Umm, I may have already bought six different holiday beers. Maybe. But that's a post for a different day.
Before I get to my tips, I have … [Read more...]

Today's topic for Tuesdays on the Run is cold weather running. Since both Patty and April are from warmer locations, I can't wait to see what they write LOL. I, on the other hand, am a Wisconsin girl at heart and refuse to embrace my inner southerner. I am totally going to ignore the fact that I've lived in the south for nearly 30 years. (Seriously? How did that happen?)
I've written about how to keep active in the winter before, but we are being told that we have another Polar Vortex winter heading our way, so here we go again. Last winter was wicked cold, like "living in the north" cold, and yet, I managed to run a lot of my runs outside. So, here are my best tips for running outside in the winter on cold, cold … [Read more...]

This past weekend was all rain all the time. (Ok, maybe there were a few breaks, but not many and there was snow...) It was one of those weekends where all you want to do is curl up on a couch under a warm blanket with a book.
Spoiler: That? Was the one thing I didn't do.
With 34+ miles to go until I hit 200 miles for March, I knew I'd be busy. When the rains hit on Friday morning, I thought it was going to be a miserable weekend of running.
Spoiler: It was not.
On Friday, a friend reached out to me and wanted to join me for 5 miles. I took her up on it and we ran 5 miles faster than I meant to. Then I finished up with 4.6 slow miles in the rain.
9.6 down, 24.7 to go.
Late Friday night, I got guilted into getting up … [Read more...]

If you had asked me before this winter whether I preferred heavy mileage in winter or summer, I would have said absolutely winter. I've done a fall marathon, which involved 20 mile training runs in 90+ degrees with matching humidity. I've done a spring marathon, which involved long runs where I ran the same mile over and over because it was the only one without ice. Hands down, winter won.
This winter has been the worst winter I've ever experienced in Virginia. It's not the snow that's the problem, it's the wicked cold. And the wind. I think it has been windy every.single.day this winter. But when it comes down to it, I think I still prefer big mileage in the winter.
So, here's how to a southern girl can stay fit during a … [Read more...]

I am deep into my training for the five half marathons in five days. I'm beginning to hit the kind of mileage I only hit when I'm training for a marathon or back to back half marathons.
The week started off great with an unplanned 10 mile run. Usually I run my longest run on Friday or the weekend, but the weather was AMAZING and I kept running until I ran out of light.
Next I hit up 4.7 miles on the treadmill while it snowed outside.
Then there was the slippery 6.3 miles on a cold windy day.
And another 6.2 miles on a cold but sunny day.
That left me with 6.5-8 miles to hit my goal mileage for the week, which should have been no problem.
I've learned how to dress for the recent weather: knee high socks, compression … [Read more...]

Seems like everywhere I looked the last few days, everyone was talking about the cold. Not just about how cold it was, but how to run in the cold. What to wear. What temperature was safe. How to make modifications to your shoes. (Apparently duct tape and screws are the answer.) People posted pictures of miles recorded next to pictures of the temp. Or the snow.
The underlying theme seemed to be "Go outside for a run in the cold. Be a badass runner."
Apparently I am not a badass.
Don't get me wrong. I have all of the equipment: balaclavas, multiple types of running gloves, fleece lined tights, even YakTrax (for the once a year snow we get here.) I CAN run outside when it's cold. I HAVE run outside when it's cold. And if … [Read more...]

Without any really good pictures because I'm totally lame...
We have been slowly revamping our diets around here. I guess you'd call it more of an attempt to eat clean. I'm going for more of an emphasis on unprocessed, whole foods.
My kids (like many kids) LOVE chicken nuggets. Love them. Could subsist entirely on nuggets. Over the last year, I've worked really hard to expand their horizons and nuggets are no longer a several times a week meal, but they are still a frequently requested meal. As in, if I ask the kids what they want instead of just putting food on the table, the answer is 9 times out of 10, nuggets. (In case you are wondering, that 1 out of 10? Shoo asks for PB&J, Jones asks for Trader Joes Mahi Mahi … [Read more...]

I just saw this on Laura's blog last night. It's been a while since I did a blogging survey and I've got a head cold and need to wrap presents (must go watch the video on Christmas wrapping a cat...), so here you go...
1 Holy Night or 8 Crazy Ones? (Do you Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, both?)
We celebrate Christmas. Depending on the year, it's either a really quiet time at home or lots of family stuff in the cold that is Wisconsin. This year is one of the quiet years.
Peppermint or Chocolate?
Both, please! Pretty sure that Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe's are the best.thing.ever.
Sing us into the Holiday Season, what is your favorite Carol this time of year?
I love most carols, but the one … [Read more...]

OK, perhaps I should call this trial by ice.
As in, it was so cold the water at the water stop froze between when we poured it and when the girls arrived.
Yeah.
This past weekend was the Girls on the Run 5k. I've volunteered many times for this race and others. This was my first time, however, being the manager of the water stop. And I was rockin' it. I got there crazy early and another helper and I set up the stop. We were quite thankful for the Knuckle Lights I won from Another Mother Runner, as there were no streetlights above the water stop.
As dawn was breaking, the rest of the water stop crew showed up. We poured water. And poured water. And poured water.
And then we noticed that some of the first poured cups were … [Read more...]

Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath.

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A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath. Read More…

Here we are, a crazy number of days into Virginia’s Stay at Home order. Today, the Northern Virginia area began Phase 1, which means more things will be open at reduced capacity and with masks required in establishments. To be honest, it’s not really going to change my behavior (we are super careful), including that […]